NYT scoop: "David Pecker...is set to go first" as prosecution witness.

[kpete]

NYT scoop: "David Pecker...is set to go first" as prosecution witness. ⬇️

Pecker could be key witness - in ways more devastating than Michael Cohen.

This also indicates DA is foregrounding unlawful election influence for jurors.

Link to tweet

[agingdem]

1. I suspect if he lies under oath, the DA will go after him

for perjury...

[brooklynite]

8. Why at this point would he perjure himself?

Trump can't save him if he gets re-elected.

[agingdem]

9. Why did Allen Weisselberg lie under oath?...

to save Trump

[brooklynite]

10. And Pecker saw the consequences of that.

[InstantGratification]

45. More than that

Yes perjury charges could be on the table, but that is not the most serious consequence. He has a deal for immunity in exchange for his testimony. If he is found to be lying or holds back information, the immunity deal can be revoked and he could find himself a defendant instead of witness.

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. Pecker

could hardly be a more appropriate name for the guy. He's not only a distasteful person, he's a real dick.

[Sneederbunk]

22. Will he rise to the occasion?

[erronis]

23. Or just be a wimp like his 'shroomy friend?

[MiHale]

26. Pecker covering for a pecker because of who one's pecker pecked.

[calimary]

32. We couldn't make this stuff up!

I think it’s SOOOOOOOOO beautiful that a guy name Pecker is standing up for the donald.

[MiHale]

47. 👍

[UTUSN]

3. K&R for, how about all his treasure trove of killed stories!

Apart from this case, holy Mark BURNETT and spouse are sitting on Apprentice files.

[Hugin]

5. I can see where this testimony will make it loud and clear the reason for the...

“catch and kill” of these stories was election interference and I guarantee it wasn’t to spare Mellie’s feelies, because, Trump could give a shit less about those.

[onecaliberal]

35. Exactly. And it won't be Cohen saying it first.

[Pinback]

18. And thank you Ronan Farrow

for your role in exposing this scummy scheme to the light of day.

[erronis]

24. Agree! Ronan really got on the story and carried it.

[CrispyQ]

4. If he tells everything he knows it will be more devastating than Cohen.

Trump thought last week was bad.

[PatSeg]

19. Oh yeah

I don't think Pecker is going to lie for Donald. He's not worth risking perjury.

Poor, poor Donald.

[Irish_Dem]

6. So it is going to be chronological order.

Going back to the very beginning of how the obstruction occurred,
the beginning and back story to the crimes.

[underpants]

12. Telling the Karen McDougal story as precedent? What is the "foregrounding..." part about?

McDougal was with Trump 2006-2007

[onecaliberal]

36. She came forward in 2016. She wanted people to know, they paid her off too.

[sop]

7. Wow, this trial hasn't even started and already so many opportunities for juvenile toilet humor.

So far we've had a ton of fart jokes, now it'll be pecker jokes. And when Stormy Daniels gets up on the stand we'll be making jokes about spankings using a rolled-up Forbes magazine with Trump and two of his children on the cover, and mushroom-shaped dicks. It's like the courtroom's being run by a bunch of twelve-year-olds.

[underpants]

13. Yes it's a target rich environment

🤩

[Disaffected]

28. Fair criticism but,

I do hope he rises to the occasion.

[sop]

29. And so it begins...

[Disaffected]

44. Yes, it does.

Including the scolding.

[calimary]

33. And don't forget the pecker jokes!

[underpants]

42. t'ain't gonna be much distance between Pecker and Asshole next week

[calimary]

60. Good one!

[rso]

11. RSO

Pecker will be exposed to the jury tomorrow.

[Ping Tung]

14. Will Donnie turn up his gas dispenser to 11 in response to Pecker"s testimony?

[emulatorloo]

15. Definitely looking forward to Pecker's testimony. It will be very damaging, all of Trump's sleazy behavior

on display.

[3Hotdogs]

16. This is 7th grade, locker room humor. It's as juvenile as the stuff when Rudi farted during his

congressional testimony.

I'm embarrassed to be a part of D.U.

Carry on.

[PatSeg]

17. Whoa, this should be interesting!

[orangecrush]

20. So Pecker

Will have to take the stand.

[Maeve]

21. So when does TSF tweet about him and violate the gag order yet again? (I won't call his posts 'truths' cuz they ain't)

[Demobrat]

25. I suspect grandpa won't be snoozing tomorrow.

[unblock]

27. I think pecker is really gonna stick it to Donnie. It will be painful and hard to take it all in.

[ancianita]

30. It's the FIRST narrative and facts on Trump's motive that win the jury,

over any defense version of Trump's motive.

Pecker is as important, if not more important, than Cohen in laying out the actual reason for trump using Cohen as cover for the money trail, and Weisselberg as cover for the bookkeeping cheating -- all for blocking public voter knowledge of more than one affair while married.
Daniels, later, will explain all the sordid reasons why the prosecution is right.

It's First points that frame the rest -- a major psychology rule of winning argument and debate
-- and that first narrative of the facts will be the filter through which the jury 'impartially' hears the defense and cross examinations.

[NBachers]

31. Expect stiff resistance from the Defense Table.

[calimary]

34. OMG how I LOVE this thread!!!

[JoseBalow]

37. I assume Pecker isn't "cooperating"

[lame54]

38. Straight to Pecker - no foreplay

[Deep State Witch]

39. And Rachel Maddow

Won't be able to stop giggling.

[Tree Lady]

40. I thought defense was told not to say

who was testifying? Or is it not to threaten witnesses?

[soldierant]

59. No one, but especially not the defense, is supposed to publicly naming the witnwsses

or the members of the jury. By the rukes of Discovery, the prosecution is rewuired to notify the defense of the witnesses (so they can make plans for cross-examination.)

However, Judge Merchan has indicated that the first witnesses are a test. If the names get out, no more prior notice to defense. I don't know whether Pecker is included in that - since he is a public figure he may not be.

[blogslug]

41. Remember, Mr. Pecker flipped on his old friend Donald.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/donald-trump-national-enquirer-allies-defect-david-pecker-michael-cohen

archive link: https://archive.ph/7pky1

Trump is – or had been – close pals with AMI chief David Pecker, who’d pushed Trump for years to run for the White House, and then used the Enquirer to promote his candidacy.

To avoid being charged with campaign-law violations, Pecker flipped three months ago and began cooperating with the feds. He corroborated detailed information offered by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, now bound for prison.

According to the “non-prosecution” agreement signed by AMI, Pecker met with Cohen “and at least one other member of the [Trump] campaign” in August 2015.

According to multiple news sources, that other person in the room was the candidate himself...

[NoMoreRepugs]

43. Some of the tighty whitey decorum police are at it again here on DU.

If you find it offensive or below you try to ignore it versus letting it rankle you is my suggestion.

[Backseat Driver]

46. I quit watching The Apprentice when Carolyn left.

She seemed smart and savy and a fair judge of the challenged teams. I recall her leaving was controversial. How has she managed few, if any, comments for or against THAT organization in the MSM and/or by a myriad of attorneys, from back in the day before Ivanka, et al, took over her spot?

[Happy Hoosier]

48. One of my all-time favorite headlines.....

[NBachers]

49. I can't wait for the judge to rubber-stamp "GUILTY!"

[WarGamer]

50. Who leaked?

AG office said they weren't telling Trump until Sunday...

So WHO leaked? Judge was pretty concerned about a leak.

[getagrip_already]

52. Maybe nobody! Who is this joker anyway?

How does he know? Does he know?

Or is this just another lie flosted to the media?

[Model35mech]

51. so, in tv attorney fashion, is this an attempt to indicate motive for the crime?

I'm not a professional court watcher, even as a couch bound legal commentator.

The crime is supposed to be lying about his business records. I'm assuming the records will demonstrate a twisted explanation of how the money was spent.

I have the feeling Trump -never- has told the whole truth in the records of his businesses. Beyond the lying accounting, must the prosecutor demonstrate how this example demands indictment and conviction above all the others?

[getagrip_already]

53. No, the crime has two components....

One is fraud. That is lying about the source and destination of funds.

The other is election interference. That is the crime that elevates the first crime from a misdemeanor to a felony. To do that, they need to demonstrate that he likely committed the second crime in furtherance of the first, even though they aren't charging him with it.

So they need to build a case showing his history of affairs, of catch and kill, and why he paid off stormy when and how he did.

It's all related. But they have to tell the whole story as one big sordid story book.

It isn't just a simple fraud case.

[Model35mech]

54. Thanks. I really needed to get onto the correct track

to be able understand the significant presented when it turns into newsbytes on the tv.

[Mr.WeRP]

55. I actually didn't get that from the linked article...

If it is true, the press is doing a disservice to justice by publishing that. It makes sense that Pecker is the first as the story somewhat starts with him.

[Buns_of_Fire]

56. Warning: The double entendre generator is showing signs of overheating. nt

[ecstatic]

57. I thought this was supposed to be a secret?

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

58. That Pecker is really going to give it to that Asshole.

This thread is getting too Anal.

[3catwoman3]

61. My own last name is the 4 letters that come after...

...soccer-, base-, tennis-, foot-, etc. It was bad enough growing up.

I'm very glad my last name is not Pecker. I'll bet the journalists are tired of saying it.

A good friend of mine while I was in the Air Force had the most unfortunate last name of Penix.